Silent company...

There she was again, watching the boats go by as she sat by the river that cold winter morning. She made a promise to herself three years ago when she left, that she would come back as soon as she could. She promised to watch the boats again and sit by the river as she used to. She kept her promise. It was like a home coming in some ways, to this place that had been her home for two long years. Far away from her home country, but more familiar than any other place she'd seen in the last five years.

Just as she threw a few crumbs of her Snickers bar to the pigeons near by, he sat down beside her on the same bench. She was about to frown at him for invading her space, when there were many other benches he could have sat on. She looked at him for a bit and then away and then back at him again.He seemed to not notice her at all. Staring away at the bridge in the distance, he sat there, still, just staring. she tried to engage the birds more actively in an effort to break his peace and make him realize that he was bothering her by being around. Wasted effort this was as he did not even flinch or acknowledge that there was another human being beside him.

She was trying to forget the last two years and focus on the fact that she was back here, in this place that she so loved. Pride always got the better of her and she refused to be the one who got up from the bench and continued to sit there, while mentally complaining about this stranger who was sharing her space. After what seemed like forty five minutes, he asked if she came here often. Surprised by the sudden ackknowlegement of her presence and annoyed by the liberty he was taking to talk to her, she politely explained that she was just visiting the country. Hearing her but not really listening, he began to tell her how life had changed for him that day.

Just that morning he had returned from one of his business trips, a couple of days earlier than he had planned to. Intending to surprise his wife in an effort to bring back romance into their existence, he was welcomed by the sight of her with another man on their bed. This more than explained why they hadn't been connecting for a while now and why she just seemed less interested in him, but that it had been going on for over a year came as a complete shock to him. At this point he just stopped talking.

She tried to ask him some questions, which he didn't reply to. She tried to offer some words of comfort which he did not acknowledge. So she sat there, still, and continued to feed the pigeons. She began to realise that he needed her space, he needed to not be alone. Although he didn't want to talk, he needed her there. So she sat there, until he eventually got up and walked away. She called out goodbye as he went away, but he just kept walking. She decided however to come back here the next day, just incase he came back too and needed to talk or just be heard or just be provided some silent company.

One morning in February...

They woke up one morning, his arms around her with her head tucked right below his. Gentle smiles on their faces and their eyes still closed as they snuggled even closer to each other. Not so long ago, they were telling each other how best they could get their girlfriend or boyfriend to give in and commit. And yet here they were now, not needing anyone else except each other.

She rose first, as she did on most days, went ahead to freshen herself, after which she headed straight to the kitchen for some coffee. As she made her way around the counter, she found that she was so comfortable in his shirt, it smelled like him and all she needed was that one piece of clothing since it covered her right up to her knees.

Everything was right where it was, for a guy he was pretty organised around the kitchen. There was some wholewheat bread on the counter and butter scotch flavoured cereal. Wanting to devour all, she settled for one slice of bread to go with the coffee and perched herself on the window sil with her legs pressed up against the glass. The rain had been at work all night and that left the morning pleasant, green and romantic, just the kind she liked waking up to. As she watched the metro go by in the distance far below, she remembered another time back in another country where she would be on the metro every day even before the sun rose. It seemed like a lifetime ago, every day rushing to get somewhere, so she could rush to do something, and she now had no idea why it was such a rush back then.

After what seemed like a half hour, she got off from her window seat. He had already managed to mobilize himself from the bed to the couch, although no other activity was accomplished in between. He usually needed a good fifteen minutes on the couch every morning before he could wake up for real. Although today, he was quite awake and had been looking at her for a while now. As she sat down beside him on the couch, they snuggled in the glory of togetherness some more. Many hugs and kisses later, it was time to go, they both had jobs that needed them.

While she was getting dressed and as she looked for the right earings that morning, she came across a pair she hadn't seen in a while. They were a gift from another guy she dated and although she got rid of most things he gave her, those earings were too pretty to give up. She put them on, thinking back to another time again, flashes of him coming back to her now and at some level, a little residual emotion was trying to surface. It's amazing how two tiny inanimate things can bring back so much. She could feel the familiar unsettling that characterised her time with that man. Almost immediately, the earings went back into the box. They were pretty, so they wont be thrown, but they were still too familiar to be worn again, ever.